The peaceful fifties. The decade of progress, development, and extreme consumerism. This postwar generation devoted its time and energy to spending all the money it couldn’t during the rationing period of the Second World War.
This was an era of economic growth and industrialization where, for the first time, not only the wealthy enjoyed the latest innovations, but also the middle class got a purchasing power like never before.
White picket fence suburbs became the norm and cars stopped being a luxurious asset and became the main vehicle of transportation. Houses were filled with new inventions that made life easier; it was the time of the baby boomers and the golden age of film industry.
Hollywood stars of the decade established new fashion trends that would become iconic among women for generations to come. And now, these items are returning through vintage outfits. Here are 6 movie stars of the fifties that became fashion icons. Be inspired to bring back fifties’ trends using modern items that fit your own personality and style.
Truck Dress – Elizabeth Taylor
“I’ve always admitted that I’m ruled by my passions.”
–Elizabeth TaylorThis British actress captivated her audience through a long career of almost sixty years. Her polemic life didn’t stop her from becoming one of the most influential fashion icons of her time. Fifties’ fashion focuses on creating the classic hourglass shape. To achieve this, truck dresses can favor any size and body type, since their shape accentuates the waist and makes the hips look rounder. You can opt for a classic style with an off the shoulder dress and pumps, or modernize it with an overall dress. The key for this look is to accentuate your waist.
Pencil Skirt – Marilyn Monroe
“Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.”
–Marilyn Monroe
Probably one of the most famous figures of the twentieth century, Marilyn’s sensuality positioned her as the embodiment of beauty. In this look, she’s wearing a pencil skirt, probably one of the greatest legacies of the fifties’ fashion. This basic clothing highlights the body with its simplicity. You can wear it with an off the shoulder top, characteristic of the time, or you can give it a new edge with a bomber jacket.
Cigarette Pants – Audrey Hepburn
“The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mode but the true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives the passion that she shows. The beauty of a woman grows with the passing years.”
–Audrey Hepburn
These pants were the revelation of a time where women were supposed to represent femininity to the extreme. However, the taboo was broken when some actresses started wearing them on movies and live television. Considered a legendary actress of the golden age era of Hollywood’s cinema, Audrey Hepburn has been remembered as one of the most beautiful and stylish women of all times. You can honor her look by wearing cigarette pants –so fashionable nowadays– with a sweater or a blouse. The key to this look is wearing flats or ballerinas. Remember: simplicity is elegance.
Circle Skirt – Grace Kelly
“I am basically a feminist. I think that women can do anything they decide to do.”
–Grace KellyAs one of Alfred Hitchcock’s muses, Grace Kelly became the embodiment of a fairy tale life when she became the princess of Monaco. Her style, one of the most elegant of her time, is ideal for formal looks. You can use a long circle skirt with heels and a simple blouse. If you want to adapt it for a casual look, tulle skirts combined with leather or denim jackets look original and modern.
Shirtwaist Dress – Brigitte Bardot
“I am shocking, impertinent and insolent that’s how it is.”
–Brigitte Bardot
This type of dress fulfills the same purpose as the truck dresses; however, the skirt here looks as if it were attached to a shirt. These dresses were the outfit of choice for teenagers, marking a trend that became the ultimate fifties’ garment. If you want to replicate it in a modern and subtle way, you can wear it in a shorter version
Midi Skirt – Lauren Bacall
“I used to dream of being in other places, other people. It was an escape for me.”
–Lauren Bacall
Midi skirts became also popular by the second half of the century. These add a sense of elegance especially worn with long sleeve shirts like the one used by the legendary actress. Nowadays these skirts are very popular, so you can add them to your wardrobe very easily. Combine them with simple crop tops for a more elaborate look, or with a shirt and sandals for a casual street look.
–Women’s fashion of the fifties might seem diverse, but what really changed were the fabrics and patterns that were available for everyone. The main purpose of fashion was to highlight the femininity by accentuating the waist, the hips, and the chest area. All these types of clothing created iconic pieces that can still be fashionable if you know how to implement them in your looks. The fifties were a time of expansion and consumerism that didn’t last long. If you want to see how fashion evolved in the following century take a look at these 6 Outfits to Perfect the Hippie 2.0 Trend. During all the twentieth century, underground styles have inspired current trends; check how the bohemian style has changed throughout the decades.
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